The river and the people of the river have gone through transformational change in the past five years with the closure of the Atlantic salmon fishery and arrival of a newcomer species, pink salmon.

In this talk you will hear insights from the Indigenous Sámi heartlands on the current situation of the great river Deatnu, one of the main Atlantic salmon streams globally.

In specific and intentional ways my research is part of a larger story of reconciliation and reclamation to ḥahuułi in which the lands, waters, skies, and the natural/spiritual worlds are not a place and/or object of inquiry, they are non-human knowledge holders and teachers.

My research documents the reclamation of knowledge, teachings, culture, language, responsibilities, and identity through my relationship to my family’s ḥahuułi (hereditary territory).

My name is ḥapinyuuk. I am čaačaaciiʔasatḥ from the Huu-ay-aht First Nations. My English name is Tommy Happynook.

Outside of her professional duties, she enjoys knitting cozy creations for loved ones, walking by the ocean with her furry companion, and crafting delicious meals from fresh, local ingredients.

Currently, she’s spreading holiday cheer by baking a variety of tasty Christmas treats! 🍪🎄

In her role, Kay expertly manages program planning, labour relations across multiple unions, space management, budget administration, and provides invaluable support to both faculty and staff.

We’re grateful to have Kay, our Administrative Officer, as part of our team. Kay feels privileged to work, live, and play on the traditional lands of the lək̓ʷəŋən, Songhees, Esquimalt, and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples.

Wishing you all a pleasant Reading Break!

Dr. Lam

While I can’t say for sure that growing up in Salem had much to do with my becoming an archaeologist, nowadays, every trip home reminds me to think of the past and how to reconcile my gratitude for the kindness of this place towards my family with its complex history of harm and colonization.

but very little about the Indigenous people of the region for whom the state is named. We learned about Salem’s prominent role in the trade between America and Asia, but barely a hint of its complicity in the trans-Atlantic trade of enslaved African peoples.